The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-08
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THEIR CONDITION At The CLOSE
OF 1884-S5.
improvements in the Number Of
Schools, Scholars and Attend.
ance, and Increase In
Expenditures.
CORRESPONDENCE or rHE ArrIAL.l


ton has Just been published, and
from it we learn that the school popu.
lstion is, for thirty-eight States, 49,
1858. 265; for ten Territories, BOG, 1875, or
total Of I7,lo9,39l; enrolment in
public schools in thirty eight States,
10. 974. 1853; in ten Territories, 1876. 460,
or total enrolment of IL 1859 923
daily average attendap ce in thirty five
States, 9, 4l0,557; in nine Territories,
100, 473, or a total daily average at.
tendance OF 6,520,300. The enroll
ment in private schools reported (for
lweL ty-fve states, 659,694; for two
Territories, 1927 increases school en-
rollment 10 II, $751; 44. For the entire
country eighteen different school ages
are reported, the longest being from 4
years Of sge to 81, the shortest from 8
10 16.
The number oil public school teach.
ers reported, all States aud Territories
except Idano included, is 3I9,549
Several States make no distinction oil
sex in reporting teachers. So far as
he distinction ia indicated the exec 81
of female above male teachers is "a, ;
0i5
Arkansas, Georgia, Texas and In
dian Territory make no report Of
teachers talsries. Twelve Ststes and
three Territories make no distinction
of sex in reporting the item; for these
the salaries range from 1923 80 to $87 "a
month. For the remaining States
salaries for men range from 500 SO Ia
SAC 80; for women, from $2l % to
$96 OIL a month. The total annual
salary depends, Of course, upon the
average duration of the school year
which ,asge3 from so days in North
Carolina to 1913 in Maryland.
The total annual income for public
school purposes, all the States and
Territories, rave Kentucky, reporting
was $l13,52l, 1896, and the total ex
psnditure, Montana alone failing to
report, was $l10,3S4, 657. The totsl
value of school property Georgia
Mississippi, Texas, Vermont and In
dian Territory not reporting) wat
1886, 1896, 746. Permanent school funds
reported for 81 States and one Territory
amount to $l39,9l1 ,496,
SOUTH ATLANTIC sTATRH.
North Carolina reports for 1885 an
increase of 14,723 in the school popu'
lation, of 1850 in the enrolment
and of 1883 in average attendance
The school accommodation was en-
larged by the addition of pa schoo
houses, the school term extended foul
days, and the value Of school property
advanced from $483,092 to 1856, 1850
This showing would be even more
favorable were the statistics of the
graded schools Of several towns and
cities not omitted.
Owing apparently to insufficiency
of school funds, the school system o
South Carolina has been seriously
embarrassed during the year. Tner'
was falling off in enrolment, in thu
length OF the school term, and in TIT
number OF public schools.
No statistics Of the Georgia schoo
system, except as regards the chic
cities, were availsble for 1885. Flori
da gives evidence Of unusual activit!
in respect to popular education, on
of the most satisfactory outcomes be
ing an increase OF 1888, sos in the ex
penditure for public schools. &c
GULF STATES.
The reports from Alabama and Mis-
sissippi indicate very decided progress
in the pablo schools. With Teporte,
school population of only $40 NOR
than in 1884, Alabama shows an in
crease OF 1881 in the number of pu
pills enrolled in the schools, of 10, Is
in average attendance, of 8 school dis
tr cts, OF 173 schools, and of 2l0 in III
number Of teschers employed. TIL
average annual pay of teachers wa
slightly raif ed, and the expenditur
for schools amounted to $16,223 NOR
than in 1S8S-S4.
la Mississippi Ichool enrolment II
creased by 12,024, and average attent
snce by 29,95S. Four hundred an
five additional teachers we're employe
and the expenditure for schools il
creased by S6S, 444.
Reports from Louisiana show a IL
voraole turn in school affairs. Tn
enrolment in public schools YVES Is
9l7 greater than in 1883 "a, and ave
age attendance 1897 greater. Tn
normal school at Natchitoches, pre-
vided for in 1884, was organized in o.
tober Of the present year, and antthe
at New Orleans promises to give
great impulse to the public schools {
that city. The inspiring influence {
the Tulane Univerlity is felt through
out the State.
The reports from Texas are som'
what ftegmentary, but indicate q d.
cline in public school interests.
SOUTHERN CENTRAL STATES.
No detailed report Of the educations
condition of the current year has bee
received from Arkansas or from KeI
| lucky. In 1884 important amend
, ments were made to the school law
t the latter State, among which are no
ed provision for the election of coui
, ty superintendents, for the levy
t county taxes, and for an increase I
3 the distributsble school fund frol
. $l50,000 to 5000 per year. Ind
3 gent and orphan children are to /
r supplied with text books free Of cos
3 With an increase OF $4,000 in tn
5 number of school youth enrolled
!. Kansas reports decrease of Is, 0O0
5 average attendance. The average pa
3 OF womsn teachers was less b
r 81 81 a month. Pablo school e.
/ psnditure, however, was greater Q
!. $5O5,689 than in the previous yea
and the value Of school property
$3.50, 1888.
The school statistics OF Nilsson
show increase in the following pa
, tiCulsrs: In enrolment in the publ
!, schools, bringing the number up
: 81 per cent. OF the youth of echo
age; in the number of schools; in tt
number OF teachers; in the number
I teachers permanently retained in or
!. place, and in the average salaries psi'
! On the other hand, there was decreai
! in the average attendance upon II
! !, schools, in the length Of the scho'
: term, and in the expenditure upo
! public schools.
Tennessee and West Virginia sho
improvement in all the essentials
|. an efficient school system. In Tel
n ssee about 81 per cent. oil the soho
. population were enrolled in the pu
n ~